Written Answers Tuesday 12 August 2008

Scottish Executive

Animal Welfare

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times ministers have met the Scottish Kennel Club since May 2007 to discuss electric shock collars and similar training devices.

Richard Lochhead: None.

Cancer

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what provision there is in the Lothians region for the treatment of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Nicola Sturgeon: Treatment of Nasopharyngeal cancer is provided at the Edinburgh Cancer Centre in the Lothians. The centre offers combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy and is also the first in Scotland to offer nasopharyngeal cancer patients treatment using the most up to date radiotherapy in the form of intensity modulated radiation.

Cancer

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken in the Lothians region to prevent the onset of nasopharyngeal cancer.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are currently unaware of a known preventative measure for nasopharyngeal cancer. It is widely accepted that early diagnosis and screening is vital to improve outcomes for all cancer patients, including nasopharyngeal cancer patients.

Cancer

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans there are to improve the treatment in the Lothians region of patients suffering from nasopharyngeal cancer.

Nicola Sturgeon: The delivery of high quality, effective cancer care for patients in the Lothians region is a matter for NHS Lothian. The Edinburgh Cancer Centre currently offers the most up to date radiotherapy treatment for nasopharyngeal cancer in the form of Intensity Modulated Radiation.

  The Scottish Government has recently concluded a consultation on an updated national strategy for cancer and will be publishing the subsequent plan shortly. It is widely accepted that early diagnosis and screening is vital to improve outcomes for all cancer patients, including nasopharyngeal cancer patients.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of Clostridium difficile have been reported by NHS Lothian in the last year, broken down by hospital.

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of Clostridium difficile have been reported by NHS Lothian in each year since 2000.

Nicola Sturgeon: Mandatory surveillance on the total number of cases of clostridium difficile reported by NHS board was introduced in September 2006. This information is collected by Health Protection Scotland (HPS) and is published in quarterly reports on their website. This information is not be broken down by hospital. However, individual hospitals collect this information and it is available from the NHS board on request.

  Information for NHS Lothian since October 2006 is provided in the following table;

  

 NHS Board
 October 2006-December 2006
 January 2007- March 2007
 April 2007 – June 2007
 July 2007-September 2007
 October 2007 – December 2007
 Jan 2008 – March 2008


 Total number of cases in Scotland
 1,213
 1,775
 1,588
 1,459
 1,608
 1,861


 NHS Lothian
 241
 258
 262
 212
 248
 259



  Source: Health Protection Scotland (HPS).

Immunisation

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which healthcare professionals it considers should be responsible for the routine immunisation of children and babies.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are responsible for the delivery of the routine childhood vaccinations and it is a matter for boards to decide how such vaccination services are delivered and which professionals should provide vaccinations.

  Individual clinical responsibility for vaccinations lie with the health professionals administering the vaccination. Such health professionals are expected to be acting within their competencies and NHS boards are responsible for ensuring that this is the case.

Justice

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of cases was diverted from prosecution by procurators fiscal from May 2007 to March 2008.

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of cases was diverted from prosecution by procurators fiscal from April 2008 to June 2008.

Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC: "Diversion from prosecution" is used by prosecutors to describe cases where offenders are offered the opportunity to address their offending behaviour normally through local social work support, such as by mediation or tackling alcohol abuse.

  Between May 2007 and June 2008, diversion was used for a total of 1,651 cases (0.5 per cent of all disposals).

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal for carrying a knife in each month since January 2007, broken down by sheriff court.

Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has a robust policy on knife crime, including charges reported for offences under Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (offence of having in a public place an article with a blade or point).

  Any person caught carrying a knife will be arrested and kept in custody. If an accused has one or more previous convictions involving possession or use of a knife or has a previous conviction for an offence of violence which resulted in a custodial sentence, prosecutors will oppose bail. If an accused has a previous conviction for a similar offence there will be a presumption in favour of prosecution before a jury.

  COPFS receives on average 294 charges per month in respect of this offence, resulting in approximately 5,290 charges for the period in question. During this time, there were no charges in which the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal for carrying a knife was to issue a Fiscal Fine.

  The following table shows the number of charges reported under section 49 in respect of which the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was either to issue a warning or refer the accused for local social work support, for example to help with tackling alcohol abuse. Guidance to prosecutors makes it clear that such action is only appropriate in exceptional circumstances and must be approved by the District Procurator Fiscal.

  Of the 27 charges in the table, amounting to 0.5% of the charges reported during this period, 21 (78%) were dealt with by way of a warning and 6 (22%) were referred for local Social Work support.

  Charges: Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995, Section 49

  Direct Measures Issued by Procurators Fiscal: January 2007 to June 2008

  

 Procurator Fiscal Office
Jan-07
 Feb-07
 Apr-07
 May-07
 Jun-07
 Jul-07
 Aug-07
 Sep-07
 Oct-07
 Nov-07
 Jan-08
 Feb-08
 Mar-08
 Apr-08
 May-08
 Jun-08


 Aberdeen
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 1
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Airdrie
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Dumbarton
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1


 Dumfries
 -
 -
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Dundee
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 1
 -


 Dunfermline
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Edinburgh
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Falkirk
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Glasgow
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Greenock
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Hamilton
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Linlithgow
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Paisley
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Perth
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 -
 -


 Peterhead
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Tain
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Wick
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Grand Total
 1
 1
 3
 1
 1
 2
 2
 2
 2
 3
 1
 1
 1
 3
 2
 1



  Notes:

  1.The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2.The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal for crimes involving a knife in each month since January 2007, broken down by sheriff court.

Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC: I refer the member to the question S3W-15015, answered on 12 August 2008. It shows the number of charges reported to Procurators Fiscal for offences under Section 49 of the Criminal Law (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 1995 (offence of having in a public place an article with a blade or point) where the Procurator Fiscal issued a direct measure.

  It is not possible to identify accurately in the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database other offences (e.g. assault or breach of the peace) where a knife was used in connection with the commission of the offence.

  The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has a robust policy on knife crime. Any person caught carrying a knife will be arrested and kept in custody. If an accused has one or more previous convictions involving possession or use of a knife or has a previous conviction for an offence of violence which resulted in a custodial sentence, prosecutors will oppose bail. If an accused has a previous conviction for a similar offence there will be a presumption in favour of prosecution before a judge and jury.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal for assault in each month since January 2007, broken down by sheriff court.

Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The following tables show the number of accused persons reported to each Procurator Fiscal Office since April 2007 where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure. Information for periods prior to April 2007 is not currently available in the same format.

  These figures do not include direct measures which were not affected by Summary Justice Reform such as Procurator Fiscal warnings and referrals to the Scottish Children’s Reporter.

  Charge: Assault - Direct Measures

  

 Procurator Fiscal Office
 Apr-07
 May-07
 Jun-07
 Jul-07
 Aug-07
 Sep-07
 Oct-07
 Nov-07
 Dec-07
 Jan-08
 Feb-08
 Mar-08
 Apr-08
 May-08
 Jun-08


 Aberdeen
 15
 23
 14
 13
 7
 16
 4
 19
 6
 14
 16
 18
 23
 38
 19


 Airdrie
 3
 7
 7
 9
 9
 16
 2
 14
 6
 20
 9
 8
 24
 14
 15


 Alloa
 9
 3
 29
 7
 5
 2
 3
 9
 7
 2
 3
 7
 4
 7
 5


 Arbroath
 5
 4
 1
 2
 6
 9
 4
 12
 2
 9
 4
 5
 6
 3
 18


 Ayr
 5
 5
 6
 1
 12
 5
 4
 4
 5
 2
 8
 8
 14
 11
 11


 Banff
 -
 -
 -
 1
 2
 -
 -
 2
 1
 2
 1
 2
 -
 -
 15


 Campbeltown
 -
 -
 4
 -
 -
 -
 2
 1
 -
 1
 -
 3
 2
 2
 1


 Cupar
 2
 -
 5
 4
 5
 1
 2
 4
 1
 2
 4
 4
 2
 10
 13


 Dingwall
 2
 5
 2
 7
 -
 3
 3
 7
 -
 4
 2
 3
 6
 3
 3


 Dornoch
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Dumbarton
 3
 4
 6
 -
 4
 4
 4
 1
 2
 6
 4
 4
 3
 5
 3


 Dumfries
 3
 11
 4
 5
 3
 5
 8
 3
 5
 3
 6
 4
 5
 9
 9


 Dundee
 13
 14
 18
 15
 25
 17
 34
 20
 14
 30
 8
 18
 18
 21
 17


 Dunfermline
 5
 2
 5
 6
 4
 20
 5
 9
 10
 5
 9
 8
 10
 16
 13


 Dunoon
 5
 5
 2
 1
 2
 2
 2
 1
 2
 -
 1
 2
 -
 5
 5


 Duns
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 3
 -
 -
 -
 5
 1
 4
 -


 Edinburgh
 32
 25
 47
 28
 46
 39
 16
 54
 27
 28
 39
 41
 69
 59
 63


 Elgin
 7
 1
 3
 6
 6
 6
 7
 4
 10
 15
 2
 8
 14
 16
 12


 Falkirk
 7
 5
 5
 3
 4
 5
 3
 5
 2
 7
 5
 15
 9
 6
 14


 Forfar
 -
 2
 1
 5
 2
 1
 4
 3
 2
 2
 2
 5
 16
 5
 4


 Fort William
 -
 1
 2
 2
 1
 -
 1
 2
 1
 1
 -
 2
 -
 8
 5


 Glasgow
 41
 36
 20
 16
 37
 30
 25
 38
 41
 53
 33
 46
 56
 71
 88


 Greenock
 -
 2
 3
 5
 6
 2
 4
 1
 2
 5
 6
 6
 4
 6
 7


 Haddington
 2
 3
 4
 6
 2
 1
 4
 3
 5
 -
 7
 7
 4
 8
 6


 Hamilton
 7
 15
 4
 8
 17
 47
 25
 27
 17
 21
 8
 13
 16
 34
 39


 Inverness
 9
 18
 5
 17
 9
 11
 14
 9
 6
 10
 14
 30
 19
 17
 11


 Jedburgh
 3
 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 2
 -
 2
 1
 7
 -
 8
 2


 Kilmarnock
 8
 4
 8
 1
 16
 16
 6
 18
 3
 15
 2
 23
 25
 53
 14


 Kirkcaldy
 5
 11
 8
 9
 4
 10
 16
 20
 16
 14
 7
 8
 28
 22
 30


 Kirkcudbright
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 -
 2
 1
 -
 -
 -
 1
 4


 Kirkwall
 -
 -
 2
 2
 -
 3
 -
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -
 4
 2
 -


 Lanark
 1
 7
 -
 -
 18
 -
 2
 5
 2
 1
 2
 2
 1
 1
 5


 Lerwick
 1
 3
 -
 2
 -
 1
 4
 -
 5
 1
 -
 6
 1
 3
 3


 Linlithgow
 2
 6
 9
 2
 3
 8
 4
 7
 6
 3
 11
 10
 23
 23
 25


 Lochmaddy
 1
 -
 2
 1
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 2
 -
 -


 Oban
 -
 2
 2
 1
 3
 1
 -
 5
 1
 3
 2
 3
 3
 11
 1


 Paisley
 2
 13
 8
 3
 7
 8
 4
 11
 4
 7
 8
 11
 24
 8
 8


 Peebles
 1
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -
 -
 2
 -


 Perth
 6
 7
 5
 14
 7
 8
 3
 5
 5
 4
 3
 11
 10
 7
 15


 Peterhead
 4
 3
 -
 -
 1
 2
 -
 3
 2
 2
 -
 3
 2
 4
 3


 Rothesay
 1
 -
 3
 2
 -
 2
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 2
 2
 -


 Selkirk
 -
 1
 1
 1
 2
 3
 -
 1
 2
 2
 3
 2
 4
 2
 4


 Stirling
 3
 11
 11
 12
 6
 5
 9
 6
 1
 8
 8
 15
 16
 4
 13


 Stonehaven
 3
 -
 -
 2
 1
 1
 2
 3
 -
 2
 -
 1
 1
 1
 2


 Stornoway
 1
 1
 5
 3
 2
 4
 4
 -
 1
 3
 1
 1
 6
 1
 6


 Stranraer
 3
 2
 3
 2
 2
 1
 1
 4
 4
 2
 3
 2
 1
 -
 1


 Tain
 6
 6
 1
 -
 4
 2
 3
 3
 1
 2
 -
 6
 4
 4
 5


 Wick
 2
 -
 1
 1
 -
 3
 3
 2
 4
 7
 1
 3
 5
 1
 2



  Notes:

  1. The information in this table has been extracted from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s case management database. The database is a live, operational database used to manage the processing of reports submitted to Procurators Fiscal by the police and other reporting agencies. If a Procurator Fiscal amends a charge submitted by a reporting agency, the database will record details only of the amended charge.

  2. The database is charge-based. The figures quoted therefore relate to the number of charges rather than the number of individuals charged or the number of incidents that gave rise to such charges.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal for domestic violence in each month since January 2007, broken down by sheriff court.

Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC: Domestic violence is not a distinct offence in Scots’ law, but can cover a number of offences including assault and breach of the peace, and therefore the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service does not hold the statistical information requested. However, COPFS decision making policy is clear that direct measures are not appropriate for offences involving domestic violence.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many direct measures have been issued by procurators fiscal in each month since January 2007, broken down by sheriff court.

Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The following tables show the number of accused persons reported to each Procurator Fiscal Office since April 2007 where the initial decision taken by the Procurator Fiscal was to deal with the offending behaviour by means of a direct measure. Information for periods prior to April 2007 is not currently available in the same format.

  Table 1 shows the direct measures issued between April 2007 and March 2008, the year before the implementation of Summary Justice Reform. The monthly average was 4,489.

  Table 2 shows the direct measures issued from April 2008 when the maximum level of a fiscal fine was £300 and new direct measures such as compensation offers were available to Procurators Fiscal. The monthly average for these three months was 4,449.

  These figures do not include direct measures which were not affected by Summary Justice Reform such as referral to the Scottish Children’s Reporter and fixed penalties for road traffic offences.

  Table 1: Accused Persons: Initial Decisions - Direct Measures 2007-08

  

 Procurator Fiscal Office
 Apr-07
 May-07
 Jun-07
 Jul-07
 Aug-07
 Sep-07
 Oct-07
 Nov-07
 Dec-07
 Jan-08
 Feb-08
 Mar-08


 Aberdeen
 66
 108
 136
 90
 123
 162
 82
 97
 89
 103
 75
 168


 Airdrie
 249
 355
 375
 248
 351
 303
 195
 180
 96
 146
 100
 126


 Alloa
 53
 50
 70
 76
 78
 46
 51
 54
 40
 33
 32
 43


 Arbroath
 52
 24
 24
 15
 30
 54
 49
 43
 13
 40
 18
 19


 Ayr
 176
 343
 257
 348
 347
 273
 203
 238
 156
 155
 145
 179


 Banff
 1
 5
 4
 5
 14
 -
 6
 4
 3
 11
 8
 6


 Campbeltown
 9
 3
 10
 4
 8
 11
 8
 4
 8
 13
 1
 8


 Cupar
 13
 23
 15
 10
 16
 13
 19
 17
 20
 19
 4
 14


 Dingwall
 15
 30
 7
 38
 19
 21
 18
 19
 3
 15
 7
 23


 Dornoch
 2
 1
 1
 2
 4
 3
 12
 5
 -
 7
 3
 -


 Dumbarton
 168
 158
 210
 201
 311
 246
 155
 145
 142
 181
 187
 173


 Dumfries
 22
 48
 31
 17
 73
 37
 92
 22
 51
 48
 78
 36


 Dundee
 52
 67
 69
 66
 93
 73
 88
 49
 53
 96
 50
 94


 Dunfermline
 38
 43
 65
 40
 87
 75
 69
 77
 63
 49
 51
 80


 Dunoon
 28
 20
 6
 31
 43
 17
 38
 5
 21
 10
 20
 12


 Duns
 4
 8
 3
 4
 6
 6
 1
 6
 1
 4
 1
 9


 Edinburgh
 240
 212
 295
 200
 546
 346
 224
 448
 272
 301
 305
 357


 Elgin
 44
 29
 17
 39
 26
 57
 36
 32
 37
 55
 34
 46


 Falkirk
 55
 86
 89
 36
 104
 113
 75
 59
 42
 56
 59
 97


 Forfar
 18
 22
 9
 13
 23
 11
 26
 9
 10
 15
 12
 44


 Fort William
 6
 19
 15
 13
 18
 8
 12
 7
 10
 8
 12
 13


 Glasgow
 1,380
 1,562
 1,150
 1,551
 1,884
 1,948
 1,292
 1,202
 862
 1,173
 1,161
 905


 Greenock
 37
 37
 20
 93
 123
 163
 161
 162
 131
 64
 138
 183


 Haddington
 31
 15
 47
 20
 74
 25
 44
 34
 30
 39
 31
 47


 Hamilton
 343
 546
 433
 512
 622
 696
 481
 391
 179
 296
 239
 291


 Inverness
 74
 92
 100
 155
 78
 110
 89
 63
 47
 61
 89
 108


 Jedburgh
 10
 12
 17
 13
 20
 16
 23
 15
 11
 9
 3
 16


 Kilmarnock
 220
 279
 260
 284
 378
 386
 282
 277
 177
 239
 254
 224


 Kirkcaldy
 61
 62
 86
 31
 102
 95
 100
 70
 86
 68
 48
 102


 Kirkcudbright
 5
 9
 4
 5
 54
 13
 15
 9
 3
 5
 2
 3


 Kirkwall
 4
 8
 10
 3
 9
 8
 4
 3
 5
 2
 1
 4


 Lanark
 55
 73
 73
 67
 146
 130
 61
 49
 36
 51
 56
 34


 Lerwick
 14
 19
 16
 17
 17
 11
 17
 5
 7
 8
 11
 18


 Linlithgow
 61
 76
 112
 32
 174
 81
 116
 80
 77
 98
 101
 93


 Lochmaddy
 2
 -
 4
 3
 2
 2
 1
 -
 -
 1
 1
 1


 Oban
 11
 31
 13
 19
 21
 11
 13
 14
 16
 19
 11
 14


 Paisley
 82
 138
 130
 133
 187
 207
 190
 182
 150
 216
 147
 215


 Peebles
 2
 1
 4
 4
 6
 3
 9
 6
 6
 3
 2
 1


 Perth
 49
 26
 18
 41
 52
 44
 69
 42
 50
 36
 26
 68


 Peterhead
 6
 17
 5
 8
 18
 20
 28
 14
 19
 13
 12
 19


 Portree
 -
 -
 -
 3
 -
 7
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Rothesay
 4
 4
 5
 13
 12
 12
 4
 4
 2
 2
 1
 6


 Selkirk
 20
 9
 11
 8
 18
 24
 10
 7
 8
 12
 11
 15


 Stirling
 41
 76
 103
 71
 79
 60
 72
 31
 29
 43
 39
 73


 Stonehaven
 6
 17
 14
 11
 8
 6
 5
 8
 5
 13
 5
 3


 Stornoway
 12
 14
 16
 33
 27
 11
 15
 5
 8
 22
 6
 6


 Stranraer
 10
 14
 11
 15
 27
 18
 35
 23
 20
 23
 26
 26


 Tain
 23
 32
 6
 21
 22
 14
 14
 16
 7
 10
 13
 24


 Wick
 13
 13
 19
 8
 10
 14
 6
 10
 17
 17
 6
 11



  Table 2: Accused Persons: Initial Decisions - Direct Measures 2008-09

  

 Procurator Fiscal Office
 Apr-08
 May-08
 Jun-08


 Aberdeen
 121 
 203 
 165 


 Airdrie
 157 
 128 
 167 


 Alloa
 40 
 39 
 50 


 Arbroath
 49 
 49 
 38 


 Ayr
 139 
 122 
 118 


 Banff
 1 
 - 
 30 


 Campbeltown
 12 
 13 
 12 


 Cupar
 16 
 42 
 21 


 Dingwall
 37 
 13 
 20 


 Dornoch
 3 
 4 
 3 


 Dumbarton
 141 
 126 
 150 


 Dumfries
 47 
 89 
 79 


 Dundee
 90 
 122 
 113 


 Dunfermline
 73 
 110 
 102 


 Dunoon
 16 
 18 
 24 


 Duns
 3 
 8 
 4 


 Edinburgh
 407 
 394 
 433 


 Elgin
 60 
 48 
 65 


 Falkirk
 86 
 90 
 119 


 Forfar
 49 
 42 
 23 


 Fort William
 7 
 20 
 18 


 Glasgow
 954 
 1,334 
 1,155 


 Greenock
 158 
 179 
 117 


 Haddington
 30 
 38 
 42 


 Hamilton
 253 
 329 
 400 


 Inverness
 100 
 100 
 103 


 Jedburgh
 7 
 18 
 14 


 Kilmarnock
 233 
 277 
 192 


 Kirkcaldy
 163 
 144 
 128 


 Kirkcudbright
 7 
 10 
 20 


 Kirkwall
 6 
 5 
 4 


 Lanark
 43 
 28 
 31 


 Lerwick
 8 
 13 
 33 


 Linlithgow
 86 
 99 
 112 


 Lochmaddy
 4 
 - 
 2 


 Oban
 15 
 32 
 14 


 Paisley
 229 
 128 
 157 


 Peebles
 3 
 5 
 6 


 Perth
 84 
 52 
 78 


 Peterhead
 10 
 12 
 19 


 Portree
 - 
 - 
 - 


 Rothesay
 13 
 12 
 9 


 Selkirk
 21 
 10 
 13 


 Stirling
 91 
 45 
 99 


 Stonehaven
 11 
 9 
 6 


 Stornoway
 22 
 11 
 20 


 Stranraer
 12 
 28 
 14 


 Tain
 19 
 13 
 9 


 Wick
 29 
 9 
 11

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new sheriff court prosecutions there were before the implementation of summary justice reform in each month since January 2007, broken down by sheriff court.

Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The following table shows the number of accused persons for whom an initial decision was taken to commence Sheriff Court proceedings by month since April 2007. Information for periods prior to April 2007 is not currently available in the same format.

  This table does not include any accused person for whom the initial decision was to offer any of the range of Direct Measures which are now available to Procurators Fiscal.

  Accused Persons: Initial Decisions - Sheriff Summary Court Proceedings

  

 Procurator Fiscal Office
 Apr-07
 May-07
 Jun-07
 Jul-07
 Aug-07
 Sep-07
 Oct-07
 Nov-07
 Dec-07
 Jan-08
 Feb-08
 Mar-08


 Aberdeen
 387
 553
 425
 490
 465
 375
 399
 482
 389
 472
 464
 371


 Airdrie
 243
 306
 344
 295
 288
 252
 241
 209
 182
 233
 258
 161


 Alloa
 135
 126
 118
 142
 95
 101
 109
 114
 115
 130
 99
 80


 Arbroath
 124
 108
 80
 120
 78
 89
 67
 95
 87
 114
 80
 88


 Ayr
 245
 248
 220
 222
 314
 234
 269
 216
 227
 251
 213
 240


 Banff
 30
 30
 29
 29
 39
 22
 32
 32
 37
 31
 30
 24


 Campbeltown
 18
 31
 22
 33
 21
 45
 16
 16
 28
 19
 15
 28


 Cupar
 56
 81
 84
 84
 50
 56
 62
 93
 67
 67
 44
 44


 Dingwall
 43
 84
 49
 59
 67
 52
 80
 68
 37
 52
 45
 59


 Dornoch
 14
 20
 9
 15
 11
 6
 28
 10
 14
 11
 12
 4


 Dumbarton
 234
 248
 237
 226
 284
 207
 207
 224
 195
 246
 207
 169


 Dumfries
 210
 349
 228
 256
 285
 214
 336
 244
 208
 236
 194
 168


 Dundee
 341
 367
 365
 288
 395
 253
 278
 267
 240
 299
 294
 265


 Dunfermline
 196
 239
 275
 232
 237
 235
 194
 256
 233
 197
 169
 143


 Dunoon
 50
 32
 56
 35
 65
 43
 58
 24
 36
 31
 30
 32


 Duns
 24
 25
 22
 19
 32
 26
 23
 18
 25
 19
 23
 13


 Edinburgh
 1,194
 1,089
 1,066
 892
 897
 789
 882
 1,016
 721
 885
 690
 702


 Elgin
 123
 90
 146
 112
 135
 104
 156
 110
 124
 177
 123
 91


 Falkirk
 269
 354
 317
 290
 306
 246
 298
 243
 265
 260
 296
 283


 Forfar
 77
 80
 53
 71
 42
 62
 63
 66
 69
 55
 52
 56


 Fort William
 26
 40
 31
 35
 57
 27
 67
 32
 42
 25
 28
 29


 Glasgow
 1,221
 1,235
 1,143
 1,096
 1,152
 1,045
 1,093
 1,060
 1,020
 1,134
 968
 840


 Greenock
 106
 140
 105
 189
 131
 186
 134
 159
 127
 106
 115
 118


 Haddington
 96
 86
 101
 80
 102
 95
 68
 120
 103
 87
 86
 94


 Hamilton
 396
 534
 358
 491
 564
 516
 536
 478
 409
 563
 474
 386


 Inverness
 198
 235
 231
 263
 234
 273
 256
 242
 223
 253
 221
 208


 Jedburgh
 60
 64
 49
 63
 80
 57
 59
 65
 53
 51
 39
 34


 Kilmarnock
 404
 432
 450
 359
 445
 391
 417
 405
 395
 477
 393
 356


 Kirkcaldy
 282
 329
 286
 311
 296
 284
 346
 337
 281
 337
 251
 191


 Kirkcudbright
 29
 40
 32
 35
 37
 23
 44
 12
 38
 28
 27
 18


 Kirkwall
 23
 26
 33
 19
 31
 15
 12
 20
 16
 25
 8
 20


 Lanark
 80
 77
 83
 105
 156
 90
 48
 96
 85
 65
 78
 52


 Lerwick
 28
 42
 37
 37
 41
 20
 55
 31
 31
 37
 32
 28


 Linlithgow
 218
 327
 229
 254
 307
 207
 228
 218
 212
 236
 255
 224


 Lochmaddy
 11
 7
 7
 13
 5
 7
 3
 9
 8
 6
 6
 4


 Oban
 30
 28
 49
 36
 30
 12
 20
 32
 19
 27
 30
 26


 Paisley
 230
 360
 270
 262
 302
 381
 326
 261
 287
 282
 281
 261


 Peebles
 19
 15
 14
 25
 20
 21
 18
 17
 18
 12
 20
 10


 Perth
 173
 214
 193
 263
 268
 179
 133
 196
 175
 180
 129
 148


 Peterhead
 119
 94
 72
 64
 126
 79
 107
 93
 121
 123
 76
 60


 Portree
 8
 2
 2
 4
 0
 7
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Rothesay
 3
 5
 9
 32
 19
 15
 16
 13
 12
 15
 5
 14


 Selkirk
 63
 62
 59
 60
 56
 64
 48
 62
 41
 47
 47
 42


 Stirling
 186
 168
 204
 177
 154
 156
 149
 154
 141
 171
 150
 168


 Stonehaven
 43
 33
 60
 51
 58
 34
 23
 50
 31
 34
 24
 28


 Stornoway
 33
 41
 40
 36
 32
 26
 36
 23
 22
 37
 26
 18


 Stranraer
 107
 104
 78
 82
 88
 86
 81
 83
 57
 107
 89
 93


 Tain
 41
 45
 49
 45
 48
 35
 59
 51
 26
 36
 36
 34


 Wick
 46
 41
 47
 43
 49
 39
 24
 33
 35
 53
 33
 26


 Grand Total
 8,292
 9,286
 8,466
 8,440
 8,994
 7,781
 8,204
 8,155
 7,327
 8,339
 7,265
 6,552

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new sheriff court prosecutions there were in (a) April, (b) May and (c) June 2008, broken down by sheriff court.

Rt Hon Elish Angiolini QC: The following table shows the number of accused persons for whom an initial decision was taken to commence Sheriff Court proceedings by month in April, May and June 2008.

  This table does not include any accused person for whom the initial decision was to offer any of the range of Direct Measures which are now available to Procurators Fiscal.

  Accused Persons: Initial Decisions - Sheriff Summary Court Proceedings

  

 Procurator Fiscal Office
 Apr-08
 May-08
 Jun-08


 Aberdeen
 414
 510
 448


 Airdrie
 198
 196
 260


 Alloa
 82
 91
 107


 Arbroath
 76
 76
 84


 Ayr
 203
 179
 177


 Banff
 25
 42
 39


 Campbeltown
 14
 11
 13


 Cupar
 61
 61
 52


 Dingwall
 40
 37
 41


 Dornoch
 11
 10
 10


 Dumbarton
 159
 145
 227


 Dumfries
 136
 199
 189


 Dundee
 253
 283
 250


 Dunfermline
 145
 222
 245


 Dunoon
 22
 35
 46


 Duns
 18
 22
 23


 Edinburgh
 558
 670
 891


 Elgin
 67
 97
 90


 Falkirk
 221
 232
 219


 Forfar
 48
 54
 69


 Fort William
 16
 38
 26


 Glasgow
 894
 927
 1,215


 Greenock
 120
 114
 128


 Haddington
 96
 97
 98


 Hamilton
 408
 568
 501


 Inverness
 203
 215
 205


 Jedburgh
 39
 53
 50


 Kilmarnock
 391
 377
 394


 Kirkcaldy
 225
 271
 304


 Kirkcudbright
 23
 36
 22


 Kirkwall
 18
 18
 16


 Lanark
 46
 37
 61


 Lerwick
 26
 23
 28


 Linlithgow
 202
 208
 186


 Lochmaddy
 6
 5
 7


 Oban
 14
 37
 22


 Paisley
 317
 251
 248


 Peebles
 9
 10
 15


 Perth
 165
 127
 163


 Peterhead
 131
 101
 82


 Portree
 0
 1
 1


 Rothesay
 7
 16
 17


 Selkirk
 40
 37
 61


 Stirling
 106
 149
 135


 Stonehaven
 20
 40
 23


 Stornoway
 23
 37
 27


 Stranraer
 70
 93
 72


 Tain
 36
 26
 48


 Wick
 49
 23
 43


 Grand Total
 6,451
 7,107
 7,678

Scottish Government Funding

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when its announcement on Race, Religion and Refugee Integration funding allocations will be made.

Stewart Maxwell: A letter was issued to all organisations who applied to the Race Religion and Refugee Integration Fund on Monday 28 July informing them of whether they had been successful under the Fund or not.

  A list of successful organisations has been published on the Scottish Government website;

  http://www.scotlandagainstracism.com/onescotland/366.html.

  The following questions were given golding answers:

  S3W-15014